Mechanical musical apparatus.



PATENTED MAY 8, 1906.

L H. DIGKINSONQ MEOHANIUAL MUSICAL APPARATUS! APPLICATION FILED AUG. 26, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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' $147,474, @mw kQ/A I No. 819,985. PATENTED MAY 8, 1906.

v J. H. DICKINSON. MECHANICAL MUSICAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 26, 1.904.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2 .12 leads to a valve orpneumatic, (shown as JOSEIH H. DICKINSON. OF

CRANFORI), NEW JERSEY.

MECHANICAL MUSICAL APPARATUS.

specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 8, 1906.

Annlieati'ni file! August 26, 1904. Serial No. 222.223.

To all whmn/ it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, JOSEPH H. DIcKINsoN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident j of Cranford, in the State of New Jersey, have 1' invented certain new and useful Improvej ments in Mechanical Musical Apparatus, of l which the following is a specification accom- I panicd by drawings.-

My invention relates to mechanical musical instruments or mechanical players for musical instruments It provides means for automatically actuating regulating devices for modifying the musical e'l'l'ect produced in various ways-as, e. the accenting ot' a particular note.

It also provides improved means forpneumatically shifting acccnting or other controlling devices to any one of a plurality of positions. j

I will illustrate my invention as applied to an accentuating mechanism for example, such as is shownand, described in United States Patents Nos. 743,130 and 743,065, granted November 3, 1903 In the drawings, Figure 1 represents, partly in elevation, partly in section, an accent-controlling slide-valve with my actuat j ing device applied thereto. Fig. 2 represents 5 a portion of the actuating device in adi'fler- 5 ent position. Fig, 3, partly in vertical section, shows a complete controlling device. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of a part of the tracker-board and oi the music-sheet.

1 designates a tracker-board provided with ducts 1] (shown as four in number) in addition to the regular ducts connected to the or dinary note-actuating sets of pneuniatics, neither these regular ducts nor pneumatics being shown in the drawings. As shown, the ducts 11 are located at one end of the usual row of ducts and are adapt-ed to coopcrate with rowsof perforations 21, cut at one side of a music-sheet 2, which is wound upon music and take-up rolls 22 in the usual manner. From each of the ducts .11 a tube located in a chest 3,) the chamber 3] of which is connected by a pipe or passage 32 to means for producing wind suction. .My device could be operated by either suction or pressure with only such minor changes as would be obvious to any one skilled in the art, and I will for convenience describe it as operated by a reduction of air-pressure below atmosphere--that is, by tension or suction. In the pneumatic chest 3 are four valves 4, each oi 1 which is connected by a stem 41 to a diaphragm- )neumatic 42, located between the suction-c iamber 31 and alower chamber 34, connected by a tube 12 with one of the ducts 11. The valve 4 moves between two seats 35 36, so as to open the upper chamber 37 alternately to the suction-cha1nber 31 and to atmosphere. From the chamber 37 a tube or passage 38 leads to one chamber of a compound collapsible or accordion bellows-box In the cmistructiml shown there are provided four longitudinal lines of perforations 21 in the n'iusic-shcet 2, four corresponding ducts 1 1 in thctrac-ker'Landfour pneumatics and pneumatic valves in the chest 3, each connected by a tube 12 to one of the ducts 11 and by a tube 38 to one of the four sections or chambers of the collapsiblebox 5. This box is shown as secured at one end to any suitable stationary support and extending horizontally therefrom. It is also shown as having four partitions 51 and a front Wall 52, all connected by flexible sides 52-; of any suitable material, nhereby collapsible chambers 54, 55, 56, and 57 are inclosed. The sizes of the several collapsible chambers are suzcliwthat the collapse of chamber 54 gives a certain minimum adjustment or unit of motion to the front wall 52. Chamber 55 gives twice as much, or two units. Chamber 56 gives three times as much, and chamber 57 four times as much. hen two or more chambers collapse at once, of course their movements are added. Thus when all four collapse the movement is ten units. In each of the partitions 51 is a controlling-port 58,

connecting the chamber in front of said partitions with one of the tubes 38, Projecting laterally from each of the partitions 51 and from the front wall 52 and clear of the sides 53 are stops 59. In the stops 59 on the partitions 51 are adjusting set-screws 591, which accurately limit the collapsing motions of the sections.

The end wall 52 is connected to operate the rod or tube 71 against the tension of a spring 8, which acts, shown, between a fixed stop 81 and a stop 72, secured to the rod 71. This spring holds the collapsible sections or chambers in their expanded posi-. tion and reexpands them when not subjected to suction.

thereof as will help to understand the present invention. I have not attempted even to show all the details of the valve-casing 6, rod 7] and valve 7, nor the means by which the ports 62 and caps 63 are connected for con trolling the pressure in the respective ends of the casing 6. At (il l haveillustrated ten pipes or ducts leading to acccntingpneumatics (not shown) to be controlled by the sliding valve or piston 7, as now well understood and shown in my said patent. The collapsible box with its different positions Serves to adjust the valve 7 from its initial or end position accurately to any often other positions, and thus at will control the point of accent in the musical scale. I'Vhen, for example, air is admitted to the trackerduct 11, which controls the collapsible chamber 54, the valve will be shifted one unit to the left to control the first pipe 61. If the tracker-duct controlling the second collapsible section 55 is opened, the valve 7 will move two units. If the first section 54 and last section 57 are simultaneously collapsed, which would be accomplished by perforations in the sheet, as shown at V in Fig. 4, the valve will be shifted to the left five units. If, for example, all the sections are collapsed, the valve will be shifted to the left ten units. Whenever a tracker-duct controlling one of the collapsible sections is again closed after being opened, its collapsible section at once opens under the action of the spring 8, and in this way the position of the valve or piston 7 is determined by the collapsing and expanding of the sections, so as to enable it to control seriatim the entire range or series of accenting-ducts, and thereby shift the accent as desired.

The operation of the entire device will be clear if I describe the operation in connection with the collapse and reexpansion of a single chamber as, for example, 57. When air is admitted to'the tracker-duct 11 which controls the chamber 57, it passes down the pipe 12, raising theliiaphragm 42 and valve 4, and thereby connecting the chamber 37, Fig. 3, and pipe 38 with the suction-chamber 31. The airis then exhausted from the chamber 57 through the pipe 38, and the collapse of the chamber under the effect of the external atmosphere occurs. As soon as the tracker-duet is closed and atmosphere shut off from the pipe 12 the diaphragm l2 and valve 4 fall, as well understood of pneumatic valves of this type, and thereby chamber 37 and pipe 38, leading to collapsible section 57, are connected with the atmosphere above the valve 4, allowing the spring 8 to instantly expand the chamber or section 57.

It is of course understood that the arrange ment of the perforations .21 (shown in Sheet 2) i is very much condensed and is diagrammatic merely to show the operation above describeduiln pract ce these perforations "means being operatively connected to i erases will be cut of the required length and in any desired position-to produce and maintain as longyas desired the proper movement and position of the piston 7 for the desired aecenting or other effect, ,It is evident that by modifications of the chest 3 and box more or fewer than ten changes of position may be given to the piston 7, (or'to any part that is to be moved for any purpose by the alternate collapse and inflation of the box 5.)

While I have illustrated my invehtion. as accomplished by pneumaticallyactuated means, I of course contemplate also the wellknown equivalent of electrically operated -means in full or part, as the exigencies of construction may require. Thus by the words or phrases ducts, passages, passage-of air, or the like I include as well electrical contacts, conductors, cu Tents, dc.

I claim- 1. In musical apparatus, a tracker, means for moving a perforated music-sheet over said tracker, an adjustable part for modifying the musical effect controlled by a perforation in said sheet, aplurality of means for moving said adjustable part in one direction, and means controlled by certain perforations in such music-sheet for actuating said moving means either separately or si]uultancously.

2. In musical apparatus, a tracker, means for moving a perforated music-sheet over said tracker, an adjustable part for modifying the musical effect controlled by a perforation in said sheet, a plurality of means for moving said adjustable part, each of said last-named means being constructed and fitted to move said part to a different extent, and means controllable by certain perforations in such lnusi 'sheet for actuating said moving means simultaneously or separately.

3. In musical apparatus, a traclaeig means for moving a perforated music-sheet over said tracker, an adjustable part for modifying the musical effect controlled by a perforation in said sheet, a plurality of pneumatic means for moving said adjustable part, eachof said lastnamed means being constructed and fitted to move said part to a differei'it cxtent,and means controllable by certain perforations in such music-sheet for actuating said mov"- ing means either separately or simultaneously.

4. in musical apparatus, a tracker having a plurality of ducts in addition to those controlling the soimd-produring devices, me for moving a perforated music- Stlitl tr cker, an adjustable part for modifying the musical effect controlled by a perforation in said sheet, and a plurality of indepemlcnri operated pneumatic means for moving said- ".med. of said ducts, said pneumatic means being constructed and fitted for either separate or cumulative operation.

part in one direction, each of said last said pneumatic means being constructed and 5. In musical apparatus, a tracker having a plurality of ducts in addition to those controlling the sound-producing devices. means for moving a perforated music-sheet over said tracker, an adjustable'part for modifying the musical effect controlled by a perforation in said sheet, an da plurality of independentlyoperated pneumatic means for moving said art each to a different extent, each of said Fast-named means being operatively connected to one of said ducts, said pneumatic means being constructed and fitted for either separate or cumulative operation.

6. In musical apparatus, a tracker having a plurality of ducts in addition to those con trolling the sound-producing devices, means for moving a perforated music-sheet over said tracker, an adjustable part for modifying the musical effect controlled by a perforation in said sheet, and a plurality of independentlyoperated pneumatic means for moving said part in one direction, each of said last-named means being operatively connected to one of said ducts, said last-named means being constructed and fitted to operate separately or simultaneously.

7. In musical apparatus, a tracker having a plurality of ducts in addition to those controlling the sound-producing devices, means for moving a perforated music-sheet over said tracker, an accenting-valve, a plurality of collapsible sections, each operatively con nected to said valve for moving said valve to a different extent, and a connection leading from each of said sections to one of said ducts,

fitted for either separate or cumulative operation.

8. In musical apparatus, a tracker having a plurality of ducts in addition to those controlling the sound-producing devices, means for moving a perforated music-sheet over said tracker, an accenting-valve, a plurality "of collapsible sections, eachoperatively connected to said valve for moving said valve in the same direction and constructed and fitted for separate or simultaneous operation, and a connection leading from each of said. sections to one of said ducts.

9. In musical apparatus, a tracker having a plurality of ducts in addition to those connected with note-actuating devices, means for moving a perforated music-sheet over said ducts, an adjustable part for modifying the musical efiect produced by a note-actuating perforation or group of perforations in such music-sheet, a collapsible box connected to said adjustable part and having means for moving it to each of more than two positions, and means for varying the air tension in said box controlled by the passage of air through a plurality of said ducts during such movement of the sheet.

'10. In musical apparatus, a tracker having nected to note-actuating devices, means for moving a perforated music-sheet over said ducts, an adjust :ifble part for modifying the musical effect produced by a note-actuating perforation 'or group of perforations in such music-sheet, a collapsiblebox' connected to said adjustable. part and having a plurality of separate chambers, and separate means for varying the air tension in each of said chambers controlled by the passage ofair through one of said ducts during such movement of said sheet.

11. In musical apparatus, a tracker having a plurality of ducts in addition to those connected with note actuating pneumatics, means for moving a perforated music-sheet over said ducts, an adjustable part for varying the musical effect produced, a collapsible her; having a plurality of separate chambers. and means connected with each of said ducts for varying the air tension in one of said chambers, whereby said adjustable part may be moved in\ one direction to a plurality of positions greater in number than said ducts.

12. In musical apparatus, adjustable means for varying the accentuation at different points of the musical scale, a power-actuated device having a plurality of separatelyactuable sections for moving said adjusting means, and means for controlling the actuation of said sections in various combinations to effect different adjustments of said accentuating means.

13. In lmisicalapparatus, a tracker, means for moving a perforated music-sheet over .said tracker, an adjustable part for modifying the musical efl'ect controlled by perforations of the said sheet, and plurality of pneumatically-actuated means for moving said adjustable part either by their separate or cumulative operation.

14. In musical apparatus, a tracker having a plurality of ducts in addition to those controlling the sound-producing devices, means for moving aperforated ni'usicsheet over said tracker, an adjustable part for n1odif v ing the musical effect controlled by a perforation in said sheet, and a plurality of independently-operated pneumatic means for moving said adjustablepart either by their separate or cumulative operation.

15. In musical apparatus, a tracker, means for moving a perforated music-sheet over said tracker, an adjustable part for modifying the musical effect controlled by a perforation in said sheet, a plurality of pneunmtically-actuated means having different rzmgcs of movement for moving said part either by their separate or cumulative operation, said part having a range of movement equal to the sum of the ranges of movement of said moving moans.

16. In a musical apparatus, the combination' of a series of pipes or ducts. a valve a plurality of ducts in addition to those. conmechanism therefor, and means for adjust-- IIS ingthe said valve mechanism to control said pipes or ducts seriatc'm, said means comprismg a plurality of collapsible chambers and pneumatic means for collapsing them severally or in comliination.

17. In a-musical apparatus, the eombina tion of a series of pipes or ducts, a valve mechanism therefor and means for adjusting the said valve mechanism to control said pipes .or ducts ser'iatim, said means comprising a plurality of pneumatics and means for operating them severally or in combination to adjust the said valve mechanism.

18. In musical apparatus, the combina tion of a series of pipes or ducts, a valve mechanism therefor, and cumulatively-o erative pneumatic means for adjusting t e said valve mechanism to control said pipes or ducts ser'iatim.

19. In musical apparatus, the combination of a series of pipes or ducts and a sliding 1 valve for controlling them seriatz'm, and cumulatively-operative pneumatic means for shifting the said valve to any of a series of determinate positions.

20.. In musical apparatus, the combination of a series of pipes or ducts and a sliding valve for controlling them. seriat'im, and cumulatively-operative pneumatic means for shifting the said valve to any of a series of determinate positions, the last said means includin a pneumatic tracker-board and per forate valve.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

Witnesses:

E. C. THOMPSON, F. A. HUGHES.

music-sheet for controlling said- 

